You are here

Sergio Baranzini, PhD (UCSF), will deliver a special lecture for the Duke Center for REsearch in Autoimmunity and Multiple Sclerosis (DREAMS) on Thursday, February 16, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Nanaline 147. Baranzini will deliver the lecture, "The role of the gut microbiome in neurological diseases." All are invited to attend.

Baranzini’s lab has been at the heart of the International MS Genetics Consortium in identifying risk alleles associated with MS and biomarkers of MS development and progression. More recently he has explored the gut microbiome in the context of neurological diseases including MS, and integrating multi-modal datasets towards understanding the pathoetiology of MS.

"The human microbiome is emerging as a major driver of multiple pathologic conditions from metabolic, to neurological to immune disorders, including MS," Baranzini said. "Our project, which we will present and discuss during the seminar, identifies specific human gut bacteria that regulate adaptive autoimmune responses, suggesting therapeutic targeting of the microbiota as a novel treatment for MS."

The Duke Center for Research in Autoimmunity and Multiple Sclerosis (DREAMS) is a multidisciplinary group of basic and clinical researchers dedicated to improving our understanding of, and patient care for, MS and autoimmune disease (AI). Read more about DREAMS here.